Microbrands v Aliexpress

I fully support microbrands, and that what tends to bother most about AliX brands. It's one thing to "homage" a big brands and justify it as buying a expensive watch at a bargain. But now they have brands like Proxima and Ipose who straight up copy microbrand designs. This is a low because most of these microbrand are trying to give the luxury watch experience at affordable prices and these brands seek to undercut them😡

The advantage of microbrands is that they mostly do unique watches that have their own look. usually just dials and hands but they make them nice. Unique costs more in R&D and that is where the Aliexpress photocopy models undercut the Micro's. I would rather turn the Aliexpress watch parts into something I like and don't buy whole watches anymore unless they are for parts.

I see your point. Watches are very personal. The back story that gets them on my wrist has as much to do with what got it their in the first place. Micro brands can do this. The Dan Henry 1975 reminds me of an Omega my Grand Father owned. Brands like Baltic and Halios bring twists to classics that are fun. The value for money is outstanding. That said the watch that has my interest at the moment is the Longines Heritage Diver 39mm (the coolest dive dial ever)

to your point you are on the mark concerning the movements used.

It is all about design language. We are at a point where we can buy a reasonably priced watch if we respect it, it can last a life time.

A watch has become a personal statement. I have reached a level of success, my watch is quirky or unusual. Watches have become personal statement about what you want to project

Microbrands offer options across a wide range of design choices at varying price ranges. Aliexpress makes them affordable, and starts your journey down this rabbit hole in short stay away 😉

To your point, how you are perceived is not an issue to you and that is to be admired. If you make your watch innocuous then that is your choice and carries a cool factor in its own right, kind of like Bill Gates wearing a Casio...It is a tool with a job to do